Milk strainer



1952 F. G. HODSDON 2,584,206

MILK STRAINER Filed April 7, 1949 A 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Feb. 5, 1952 F. G. HODSDON 2,584,206

MILK STRAINER Filed April 7. 1949 2 Sl-lEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Feb. 5, 1 952 i;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V f 2,584,206 7 j g MILK STRAINER Floyd G. Hodsddn, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 7, 1949, Serial No. 86,090

This invention relates to a strainer assembly and more particularly to an improved strainer and filtering-structure having novel features for facilitating the straining of fluids such as milk or the like.

In order to improve the quality of milk after it leaves the animal, it is desirable to strain out impurities such as dirt scale, or clotted milk formations, which find their way into the milk during the milking operation. In order to accomplish this operation, many different types of strainers have been developed. These previous strainers were generally found to be expensive both in manufacture and use. The initial'expense would be high and the necessity'of frequent change would require frequent stoppage of the complete milking operation.

In certain instances it is desirable to milk directly into a pipe line whereupon the milk is carried below atmospheric pressure to one or more containers for storage. The milk under pressure passes from the animal through a strainer and thereupon into the pipe line. In order to keep the bacteria and sediment count to a minimum it is desirable that the'strainer be constructed so that it can readily be disassembled and cleaned after each use. The filtering structure usually includes a fibrous cloth which is adapted to filter fine particles suspended in the Whole milk. It is desirable to replace the strainer cloth after each use so that the efliciency of the filter is maintained.

It is the prime object of applicants invention to provide an improved inexpensive strainer structure especially adapted to strain fluids under pressure as they flow from each'into the main milk pipe line.

Another object is to provide a strainer havin novel features of construction which adapt the same to be readily assembled and disassembled after use so that the structure may beicleaned and the filtering element replaced.

A still further object is to provide a strainer structure having a funnel-shaped body of resilient rubber-like material which is integrally formed with a pipe line connection.

Another object is to provide a strainer structure including a funnel-shaped rubber member having a resilient rubber flange adapted tohold a filtering structure in assembly, theflange being .3 Claims. 7 (01. 210-164) easily manually distorted for permitting the insertion and removal of the filtering element.

' A still further object is to provide an improved filtering structure adapted to readily filter fluids entering the structure below atmospheric pressure. 7

These and other objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the specification when examined in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a cross-sectional view through an improved strainer and filtering structure.

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of a filtering disk.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of a fibrous filtering disk.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through a funnelshaped filtering member.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through a modified form of strainer structure connected to a conventional type milker pail cover.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 4, a strainer assembly is generally designated by the reference character It. The strainer assembly I0 includes a longitudinally extending conduit formed of a rubber-likematerial. The conduit ll includes a chamber 12, the chamber [2 being connected with openings l3 provided at the ends of the conduit H. A funnel-shaped body member I5 is integrally formed and connected to the longitudinally extending conduit II. The body member I5 is also formed of a rubber-like material. It can, of course, be appreciated that this type of structure can readily be molded with the use of resilient materials such as plastics or other synthetics. The funnel-shaped body member I 5 is provided with an opening it at its upper end. A conical inner surface I! is provided on the funnel-shaped body member l5 and this surface ll tapers toward an opening IB which is in communication with the chamber l2.

A filtering structure is generally designated by the reference character IS. The filtering structure l9 consists respectively of upper and lower filtering or strainer disks 2!] andZI preferably made of a metal material. The strainer disks 2B and ill include a plurality of perforations 22. The filtering element 20 is provided with an i'mperforate portion 23. A plurality of rubber'pro'- jections or supporting lugs 24 are provided in the conical inner surface I! of the member I5. The lugs 24 project radially outwardly from the axes of the member 15 and are circumferentially spaced with respect to each other. The lugs project in an axial direction from the conical inner surface IT.

The filtering structure I9 is supported on the rubber projections or supporting lugs 24 and a filtering pad or disk 25 is positioned-and clamped between the filtering disks 2!] and 2!. The disks: 20 and 2| are of concavo-convex shape, the maxi mum spacing of the disks 20 and 2| taking splace near the axis of the disks. The filtering pad or disk 25 may be of any fibrous material such as cloth or paper adapted to strain fine particles from a fluid.

A covering disk 26 is positioned over the disks 20 and 21. The covering disk 26 is of conical shape and has its outer annular edge seated upon the edges of the filtering disks 20 and 2|. The covering disk is provided with an opening 2T which is in axial alignment with the opening l8 and with the imperforate section 23' of the disk 20. A boss 23 projects from the covering disk 26,, the boss being provided with a bore 29. Thebore 29 may be placed in communication with a fluid connection 30 by means of a pet-cock 3| having a conventional type of recess construction 32. The funnel-shaped body member 15 is provided with an inwardly extending annular flange 33. The flange. 33 is arranged to resiliently engage and clamp the edges of the covering member 26 againstthe strainer disks 20 and 2|. The filtering structure 19 is therefore resiliently pressed against the rubber projections 24 and thus the filtering structure is secured in assembly with the funnel-shaped member l5.

A modified strainer assembly 35 is shown in Fig. 6. The assembly 35 includes a funnel-shaped body member 35 having a projection 3'! which is provided with a bore 38.. The funnel-shapedbody member is formed of a rubber-like material having great qualities of resiliency. The body memprojections 40. adapted to support a filtering structure. The filtering structure 42 includes a. pair of spaced disks, 43' and 44 between which is. positioned a. filtering cloth or disk 45. The disks 43 and 44 are provided with a plurality of perforations 46, the disk 43 having a centrally located imperforated portion 41, the purpose of which will presently become apparent. A covering disk 48 is positioned to enclose the filtering structure 42 within the funnel-shaped member 36. The covering disk 48 includes an inlet connection 49. The strainer assembly 35 is connected as shown in Fig. 6 to a milk can, cover 50 whichis adapted to act as a closure for a conventional type of milk can. The milk can cover so is provided with a milk cock having the usual type of inlet connection 52. The connection 52 frictionally engages the boss 31 to place the can cover 50 in communication with the filtering structure.

The strainer assembly shown in Fig. 1 is used in connection with a pipe line milking operation wherein thev whole milk under pressure enters through the fluid connection 30 into the funnelshaped body member I5. The imperforate portion 23 of the filtering disk 20 is adapted to deflect the milk under pressure to the sides of .the

disks 20 and 2| whereupon it is strained through the filtering cloth 25 and passes into the chamber l2. It is especially important to note. that the imperforate portion 23 of the disk 29 servesto deflect the milk under pressure and therefore the outer area of the upper filtering disk 25 is utilized. The velocity of the liquid having been stopped or deflected by the non-perforated center part can then flow through the outer holes and under the center part and utilize the entire fi1ter pad for straining. The imperforateportion 23 also prevents the possibility of damaging or puncturing the center .portion, of the cloth disk which might readily occur due to the high velocity of the milk flow during the operation. The strainer l0 may readily be disconnected from the conduits I4 by simply pulling out the conduits from the longitudinally extending conduit H. The parts are held in assembly by means of the resiliency exerted by the rubber conduit H and the higher'atrnosphericpressure' outside the filter. When it is desired to wash the strainer assembly the operator simply manually distort the inwardly extending flange 33 and thus expediently withdraws the flange from engagement with the covering member 26 and the filtering structure [9. Thus the. disksi22 can be snapped out of as- I sembly and the. filtering cloth can readil be replaced with a minimum of effort and time on the part of the. operator.

The operation'of the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that above described. In this construction the disk 43 is also provided with an imperiorate portion 41 which functions in a. similar manner to the operation ofthe disk 20 above described. The filtering. structure in this case is attached to the milk pail cover 50. The filtering cloth 45 may also be readily replaced by simply distorting or expanding. the: inwardly extending annular edge or rub ber-likematerial which normally holds the filtering structurein assembly.

It should. nowbe obvious that applicant has provided: an improved novel. and. inexpensive filtering; structure which permits the ready and quick replacement of the filtering elements: for replacement or Washing purposes. The novel utilization of a funnel-shaped. body member having a. resilient inwardly extending edge arranged to clamp the filtering elements togetherpermits the: efficient filtering of fluids under pressure below. atmospheric. securely sealing the structure during this operation and atthesame time permitting ready and quick replacement of the parts after the operation has endedv and the'inside below atmospheric pressure has been relieved. It can thus' bers-een that the objects of the'invention have been. fully met and it, must be understood that. changes and modificationsmay be made whichdo not depart from the spirit of the invention as disclosed nor the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Whatis claimed is:

1. A strainer assembly comprising a longitudinal body structure having a, chamber, said body structure being formed of a rubber-like material and including inlet and outlet openings, said" body being adapted to frictionally engage in sealing.

relationconduitsincommunication with the outlet openings of said body, a. funnel-shaped inlet member of rubber-like material integrally formed with. said rubber-like body, said inlet member having an opening communicating funnel-shaped member in assembly, said flange,

with the chamber,. a plurality of resilient supporting lugs being expansible out oi engagement with the covering disk whereby the filtering structure may be removed from the strainer assembly.

2. A strainer assembly comprising a longitudinal body structure having a chamber, said body structure being formed of a rubber-like material and including inlet and outlet openings, a funnelshaped inlet membe I rubber-like material inid rubber-like body, said ,opening communicating lurality of resilient supporting lugs extefid n upwardly within the funnel-shaped member; filtering structure carried by said funnel-shape ember, said structure including upper an w'er disks, each disk being provided with a ty of spaced perforations, a strainer cloth oned between said disks, a covering disk posit ed over said filtering structure, said disk havin a fluid opening, and an annular inwardly exte g flange on said funnelshaped member, saidydlange being formed of a rubber-like material and being arranged and constructed to engage; the edge of said covering disk for resiliently sjcuring the filtering structure and the funnel-shaped member in assembly, said flange beingexpansible out of engagement Fat the larger end of the funnel shaped member and extending inwardly toward the axis of the funnel shaped member, a filtering structure supported on said supporting lugs, said filtering structure including a perforated disk supported transversely on said lugs, a cover member for enclosing the funnel shaped member, said cover member having a centrally disposed opening, a

I conduit connection on said cover member projecting outwardly therefrom, said flange resiliently engaging the peripheral edge of said covering member whereby the covering member, the filter- 'ing; structure and the funnel shaped member are a resiliently clamped in assembled relation.

with the covering disk whereby the filtering structure may be removed from the strainer assembly.

3. A strainer ffasseir' bly comprising a funnel shaped member of rubber-like material, said funnel shaped member'fincluding an inner conical surface tapering toward an opening formed in the funnel shaped member, a conduit projecting outwardly from the funnel shaped member, said conduit being also formed of rubber-like material; integral with the funnel shaped member and in communication vviththe opening, a plurality of resilient supporting-lugs connected to the inner conical surface "an projecting axially with respect thereto, sai supporting lugs extending ra- FLOYD G. HODSDON'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 434,117 Rickets Aug. 12, 1890 435,096 Hoops Aug. 26, 1890 1,009,098 Ratican Nov. 21, 1911 1,047,070 Kantrowitz Dec. 10, 1912 1,403,108 Postma Jan. 10, 1922 1,888,245 Sperling Nov. 22, 1932 2,073,991 Koser Mar. 16, 1937 2,100,165 Holmberg et al Nov. 23, 1937 2,314,357 Lehman Mar. 23, 1943 2,321,220 Lieberman June 8, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 428,554 Great Britain May 15, 1935 

